I am a confuzzled fic writer who has just found out that fanfictiondotnet hides "M" rated stories. Please be made aware of another rating change. This fic is now rated as "T". If you've read this far, you'll probably have noticed that this story is a little too tame to be a "M" story. Please pardon this ignorant (and sometimes very slow-to-get-it...) ficwriter who had automatically picked the highest rating available just to be on the safe side.
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Chapter Six - Butterfly Wings
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The moment Katara felt Zuko's mouth upon hers, Suki's training kicked in. On its own volition, her right arm jammed itself against Zuko's windpipe while her other arm readied to aim another jab at his face. However, her friend's careful tutelage non-withstanding, Katara failed miserably to extricate herself from the FireLord's embrace.
Zuko, having personally witnessed and had just recently endured just how fast the healer could throw a punch at even just verbal provocation, had anticipated a defensive maneuver. In addition, he wasn't about to make the painful mistake of underestimating just how much damage a well-aimed kick or knee from her could inflict on his personage.
Katara almost screamed in outrage when she found herself pinned against the wall; her mouth still sealed neath his. He kept her hands imprisoned against the stone with the rest of her body effectively rendered immobile by the weight of his body against her. She couldn't kick at him or even waterbend for he had divested her of her waterskin at the very moment she began to struggle.
"Zuko, get off me!" she told him furiously when the kiss finally ended.
His somewhat dry response to her demand shocked her mute. "Only if you promise not to injure me, milady."
Anger and confusion made an unlikely couple as Katara stared up at his face. Much to her sheer disbelief and additional outrage, Zuko was actually smiling at her.
"You think this is funny? This is not fun-" Katara was silenced in mid-yell; her eyes widened once more when Zuko again lowered his head to kiss her. This time, it lasted longer and much to Katara's frustration, she actually felt breathless when it was over.
"Zuko-" she began to protest and received a veiled warning in return that he would keep kissing her until she calmed down.
Irritation flared, and Katara was about to say - "Don't tell me to calm down!" - when for the third time, his lips covered hers and with a reluctant whimper, she finally began kissing him back.
Against her lips, Zuko smiled, satisfied by her acquiescence. His hold on her wrists loosened as he deepened the kiss. A soft moan of protest of a different meaning broke free from Katara when he ended the third kiss too soon this time for her liking.
Katara suddenly found her hands free, but she couldn't find the energy or will to put up further resistance. Weak, she let her arms fall to her sides as Zuko slipped his right hand behind her neck. Her eyes again widened then shut tight in the next moment when the FireLord began to rain soft kisses down the side of her throat.
She shivered involuntarily, surprised when he whispered into her ear, "Can you stand?"
Confusion drove off desire, and Katara found herself staring at his still smiling face.
"... What?"
The right corner of his mouth twitched, and Katara had no warning at all when he suddenly pulled away from her. She yelped, surprised to find her unsupported self sliding down against the wall to end up landing undignified on her behind.
---
Zuko watched amused as a sullen-looking Katara refused to face him.
"Katara-"
"Go away, Zuko," she said immediately, sounding absolutely peeved with him.
He allowed a pause and then asked, "Would you have preferred I had continued?"
Silence followed.
"We could continue," he suggested, and Katara glanced back at him and bluntly told him to-
"Drop dead."
"I think there's been enough dropping for today, milady."
A frustrated noise emanated from the healer before she finally turned around and in a very unladylike manner told him that he could take his witty remarks and just shove them right up his-
"Agreed, but only if you give me permission to perform something similar for you," he said to her in a silky tone.
Her expression turned blank at his hint. Then, her blue eyes widened; her jaw dropped in indignation. Zuko watched, lips twitching, as she struggled to come up with an appropriate retort, but all she could manage was to again demand for him to go away.
"No."
"... What?"
"No, I am not going away."
"You can't stay here!"
"Why not?"
"... Fine," she snapped. "Do whatever you want. I'm leaving."
"May I come along?"
"... No!"
"I noticed you hesitated."
"That's because you say the most ridiculous things!"
"... And you do not?"
Unable to take it anymore, Katara went into waterbending stance, uncorked her waterskin and a jet of water propelled itself towards the FireLord, who with an almost lazy-like gesture, firebended a heat shield which evaporated every single drop of water into steam.
"Zuko, go away!"
"Always quick to throw the first punch, aren't you, Katara?"
She growled at that; her hands fisting, itching to get at Zuko, who noticed. His smile widening almost to a grin, he removed his cloak and tossed it aside before assuming a fighting stance.
Katara again hit boiling point when he dared to wink at her.
---
Much later, a much confused Katara stared at the shadowed ceiling of her bedroom, wondering what in the world had happened between her and Zuko. In the darkness, no one could see her blush but she could still feel the blood rushing to her face as she couldn't help but remember the disaster of a fist fight she had gotten herself into with the FireLord.
Suki had always told her to never get into a fight unless her mind was clear and focused; Katara knew she'd never live it down if the Kyoshin ever found out she had actually attacked Zuko while utterly annoyed and mad as heck. Katara had lost of course, and badly. She hadn't even managed to land a single strike on the FireLord, who had seemed to vanish from her attack zone like a ghost only reappear right behind her.
Katara moaned and covered her face with embarrassment as the memory of what occurred after forced itself to be recalled.
Zuko, get off me!
I won't let you go this time, Katara.
No. I can't do this with you.
You want me.
... I know, but I can't. I'm with someone.
The Avatar?
... You knew about Aang? Then why did you-
Katara, men have been fighting over women since time immemorial. I don't think I need to explain that fact to you.
... What? You think I'm like a trophy, because I am not, Zuko, so get off me!
Zuko had laughed at her indignation and once again - even as a memory - Katara could feel her stomach go aflutter as she remembered how he had whispered to her that he considered her a very desirable woman and that he had been thinking of her since Kyoshi.
I have little patience for games, Katara, though I did enjoy our repartees very much. Let me have you; I am quite certain you will enjoy me.
The promise of sensual pleasure in his voice tugged at Katara even now, and on her bed, Katara found herself weakly shivering with regret that she had been verbally adamant in refusing his seduction even as the rest of her more than implied surrender.
Zuko, please let me go.
He had sighed, disappointed, and Katara had felt a confusing mixture of both frustration and relief when he finally let her up; however, it wasn't going to end so simply. Once upon her feet, he had begun to kiss her so thoroughly that Katara was just about ready to change her mind when he murmured good night in her ear and left her alone and weak-kneed with want on the suddenly cold and lonely balcony.
---
Despite the success of the ball and that Sokka would be very happy in the morning to find out that Suki had forgiven him, Aang just wanted the day to be over with so that he could get some much needed rest. As much as he enjoyed socializing, he was dead tired before the ball was finally over and quite annoyed that Zuko had disappeared (from his ball) far too soon for Aang's liking.
Still, Aang took solace in that the other firebenders - Iroh, Jee and Bei, even Jun (though technically not a firebender) - were more interested and industrious in bettering relationships with the other nations, unlike their sorry excuse for a FireLord. Iroh had set up a Pai Sho game in one of the anterooms, which proved to be quite popular with the other guests, despite that he was cleaning them out.
Commander Jee, who like most firebenders, had an interest in engineering and had quite impressed a considerable number of earthbenders with his sincere appreciation of Omashu architecture while Ambassador Bei had managed to acquire several promising trade route agreements before the evening was through. Jun, undoubtedly the most popular of the lot, hosted a drinking contest. So far, no one had managed to best her.
It was a good two hours after midnight before Aang finally made his weary way to Katara's bedroom, making only one detour to check on the twins. He didn't bother to use the doors to which he didn't have keys to and instead earthbended his own entrances and exits.
Katara stirred from restless sleep when she heard Aang enter the room. As the torch light from the hallway was shuttered by the closing wall, Aang bended his own fire and lit one of the room lamps. He smiled when he saw her awake and sitting up on the bed.
"Did I disturb you?" he asked, placing the lighted lamp on the bedside table and sitting beside Katara, who shook her head once and smiled at him. Much to his puzzlement, she turned flustered when he drew her close to him.
"Katara, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Aang," she said a mite too quickly. What vaguely resembled guilt flashed across her face, but before he could question her again, she hurriedly leaned towards him, and Aang quite forgot his concern for her unusual behavior as she began to kiss him intently.
---
On the fourth day of King Bumi's Supercentarian Silver Anniversary Birthday Week, Katara had to force herself to go out of her room. Much to her guilt, Aang noticed her reluctance and much to her annoyance, he teased her, saying he couldn't blame her for wanting to spend the day in bed with him. For his presumption, he received a very hard jab in the arm and was massaging his injury all the while he waited for Katara to get her children ready for the day ahead.
Breakfast was an uncomfortable affair for Katara, for Zuko, for the first time, had chosen to have a meal in the dining hall. He was an obvious figure, drawing more attention than even the Avatar, as he broke fast with his uncle, Jun, Lee, Bei and the other firebenders seated at tables reserved for them. The FireLord was hooded, and he wasn't the only one. Nearly the hundred or so delegation from the Fire Nation had chosen to conceal their faces while the FireLord was doing so, much to the annoyance of most of the other guests.
"Please," harrumphed a old gent seated not too far-away from Katara, "it's not as if we are interested to know what they look like."
"Maybe they're too ugly," said another diner.
"Hope they spill food and drink down the inside of those cloaks of theirs."
Aang, hearing the snide remarks, kept a strained smile on his face as he whispered to Katara that he would go ask Zuko to request him and his men to remove their hoods. Katara, who didn't want him to go anywhere near Zuko, forced a smile on her face that bordered on the anxious as she watched Aang head towards the table where the FireLord was seated. Not too long after, Aang returned to Katara's side with a very aggravated expression on his face.
"He said no, huh?" remarked Sokka, amused. Suki, seated beside him, smiled when Aang threw Sokka an annoyed look, and Katara's own smile turned genuine with gladness that her brother and Suki had mended their troubles.
The morning only turned more uncomfortable for Katara as after breakfast they made their way to the palace sand garden where an interested audience watched as the FireLord oversaw the training of Chiko's son, now named Toto, to imprint upon Tui as his master.
Aang, always interested in animals, immediately took a liking to the hawks and was quite outraged when Zuko refused for him to go anywhere near the birds.
"And just why not, Zuko?"
"You're an annoyance that's why, and because these are -my- hawks."
"I thought you gave them to Katara and Tui."
"Chiko is imprinted on me, and I am the secondary for Toto. I still have a say on who they can associate with."
"... All right, fine!" Except for Katara, everyone else turned amused when the Avatar stomped away from the FireLord, muttering something about banning Zuko from any and all Avatar's Stables.
Not wishing to stay in the sand garden, Katara asked Haru and Shori to watch the twins before going after Aang. As she left, she felt as though Zuko's eyes were upon her back but didn't turn around to confirm her intuition. At the foyer, she caught up to Aang, still in a dark mood.
"I just don't understand that... that moron!"
Somehow, to Katara, the term just didn't seem to suit Zuko, but she didn't try to suggest a more appropriate term to Aang. She didn't know how to describe Zuko either and just suggested to Aang to ignore him.
"Easier for you than me. I have to deal with him a lot of times because I'm the Avatar and he's the FireLord," said Aang in a sour tone as they left the palace; he didn't notice Katara turning pink at his words.
---
Katara tried as much as possible to spend the entire day with Aang, all the while struggling with guilt that she had desired Zuko, regardless that she had rejected him. Fortunately, Aang didn't seem consider Katara's rather clinging behavior odd; he was delighted, too delighted actually, much to Katara's well-worn patience.
In the evening; however, Aang, with much regret, informed Katara that he had to go off and do something for Bumi, which he wouldn't specify despite Katara's questions nor would he allow her to accompany him.
"I'm sorry, Katara. It's kind of a surprise," said Aang, giving her a teasing kiss before leaving.
Suddenly alone and feeling very uneasy as though a target had been painted upon her, Katara sought out Sokka and Suki and decided not to disturb them when it became a bit too obvious to her that they wanted some time alone together. Next, she accompanied Haru and Shori, which was fine until it was time for the children to go to bed. After that, Katara felt too much of a third wheel in their company. Finally, very reluctantly, she decided to go to her room but only after spending a little bit too much extra family time with her twins. Lan didn't mind, but an annoyed and inquisitive Tui kept asking their mother why she was staying in their room.
---
Dread and hopeful expectation made a queasy mixture in Katara's stomach, and she felt very annoyed with herself for all the while she was telling herself Zuko wouldn't show up or better not show up; inside, she was also wishing he would show. In addition, she was also feeling uncomfortably wrinkly all over for forcing herself to stay in a very cold bath for a very long time.
Katara felt quite miserable when she began sneezing while combing her hair and silently cursed Zuko if she came down with a cold. She didn't care that it had been her idea to suffer a long cold bath, it was still the FireLord's fault.
The expected dreaded knock suddenly came from the balcony doors, and Katara whirled towards it, almost dropping her comb. She kept still, struggling between wanting to answer and running for safety to her children's room. A second knock, and still Katara didn't do anything. When a third knock didn't sound, Katara began to breathe easier and silently reassured herself she was glad and definitely not disappointed that Zuko had given up.
Then, the third knock came, and much to Katara's shock, it came from the door leading to the commode, which her room and the twins' room shared.
---
"Ma-a, Lord Zuko wants to talk to you," said Lan, yawning widely and thus missing the look of pure outrage on his mother's face as she rushed passed her sleepy son into the commode, through the other door into her children's room where Tui was sitting up on her bed with a half-asleep, half-irritated expression. The balcony doors of their room were partly opened, and Katara thought Zuko was indeed fortunate and wise that he hadn't step a single foot into the twins' room; otherwise, she would have murdered him on the spot or at the very least - make it impossible for him to have children of his own.
---
"I hate you," she told Zuko very bluntly. Arms crossed, Katara glared at the FireLord standing on her balcony again. Fortunately or not exactly fortunately, her children, having been raised as proper Kyoshins, didn't find it anything out of the ordinary that their widowed mother was being courted by another prospective lover despite being already romantically involved with their favorite Avatar.
Katara couldn't even begin to imagine how she could persuade her children to keep secret that the FireLord had visited her at night.
Zuko, all of the sudden reminding Katara too much of Aang, didn't look the least bit repentant and gently assured her that he would never hurt her children.
"I just wanted to see you, Katara." His voice was soft, warm and filled with promise. Much to her annoyance, Katara felt her anger all too quickly draining away to be replaced by a much more difficult emotion to bear with.
Seeing her soften, Zuko moved closer, and Katara, whose legs suddenly felt as though made of lead, found herself only able to protest verbally as once again she was in his arms.
"Zuko, please don't," Katara choked, even more alarmed when she discovered that she hadn't even brought her waterskin along with her. She tried fight her way out of his embrace but it was though her own hands had turned traitor on her and instead had slipped round to his back, urging him closer instead of pushing him away.
A reluctant moan of panic and want wrenched itself from Katara's throat as Zuko laid her across the length of one of the balcony's stone benches. The bench, retaining the warmth of the desert sun's heat, still felt like ice against Katara's back as Zuko's weight pressed down upon her; his body though fully-clothed seemed to brand her with its feverish heat.
Katara found herself looking up at the cloudless desert night sky aglow with stars as Zuko ran his mouth down her throat. She tensed, blushing furiously when he loosened her robe.
"Zuko-"
"You have no idea how much I want you, Katara," he interrupted her, his voice raspy with need, and deep inside Katara, satisfaction bloomed, fed by the knowledge that the Fire Lord desired her this much. Suddenly aware of the control she could wield over him, Katara nervously licked her lips and shifted her position underneath him. Zuko was clearly startled when he found his lower torso perfectly cradled against her.
"Katara-"
"Just take me please," she whispered to him, closing her eyes, finally accepting she wanted him and wishing only for the torture to end.
His face softened at her surrender and his mouth was gentle as he kissed her. Katara was surprised when he got off her and tugged her up to stand unsteadily against him. She gave him a confused look, and Zuko chuckled at her puzzlement.
"I don't wish our first time together to be on a stone bench, milady," he told her in a teasing tone, then he turned very serious and said that they should go to her bedroom.
It was the thought of having Zuko in the bed where Aang had first made love to her that finally doused Katara's libido. All of a sudden, all she could feel was unbearable shame at her weakness and with a barely repressed sob, she pulled herself away from Zuko.
"Katara-"
"Zuko, I'm sorry, I can't do this. Please leave."
Katara shook her head, backing away from him, apprehensive when fury darkened his face at her sudden rejection of him so soon after giving him permission.
"Do you always play around with men like this, milady?" he told her in cruel tone.
Anger sparked inside Katara at the vile accusation. "I didn't play around with you, and you know that," she whispered to him furiously. Much to her despair, tears began to well up in her eyes and Katara, now hurt by his words, turned and walked away from him, back towards the balcony doors of her children's room. She refused to break down into tears in front of him.
She almost screamed in fury when he suddenly grabbed her wrist. In blind rage, Katara struck out widely at Zuko with her free hand, which he captured too easily. Finding herself held against him, she was about to yell at him to let her go when he whispered an apology into her ear. At first, Katara, stunned, couldn't believe the FireLord had just apologized to her, but then he sighed, sounding regretful, and again, this time murmuring against her hair, he told her he was sorry.
"It was wrong of me to say that, Katara. I do know it, and I am sorry."
Katara, her hands still imprisoned, furiously tried to blink away her tears and was very much taken aback when Zuko released her hands and raised his own hands to her face to gently begin wiping her tears away. Seeing the concern in his golden eyes, Katara suddenly felt shy and moved away from him uncertainly; Zuko's expression turning unreadable.
Finally, with a small smile, Katara said to him, "I am sorry as well." Seeing his face turned puzzled, Katara explained slowly, in an awkward manner, that she did wish to be with him.
"But I just can't, Zuko. I would lose all respect for myself... and for you if we did this."
"... Because of the Avatar?" he queried; his expression again, difficult to decipher.
Katara nodded, still smiling slightly. "Yes, because of Aang." She felt a twinge of amusement when Zuko shrugged, saying that the Avatar didn't have to know.
"Zuko... we would know. I would know."
"You can't keep a secret?" he said in a rather bland tone.
"... That's not the point," said Katara shortly, wondering if she had to enlighten Zuko about betrayal and its related subject matter. Then, he made a grimace, and Katara realized that he must be understandably frustrated by his failure to seduce her. Much to Katara's increasing amusement, she felt that she had to reassure the FireLord of his virility.
He looked very surprised, not to mention a little indignant when Katara told him teasingly that she was certain she was one of the minority, if not the only one, who had been able to resist his considerable charms.
"It was very difficult to refuse you, milord," said Katara, feeling more than a pang of satisfaction when it took him a noticeable length of time to answer her back, and his answer this time was far from witty.
"I almost had you," he said, sounding defensive. His expression turned irritated when Katara had to bite her lower lip to keep from smiling at him too broadly.
"Yes... of course. You almost had me," Katara slowly repeated, finding it difficult not to giggle, much to Zuko's annoyance.
He made a soft growl and suggested they could try again. This statement really didn't impress Katara, who now really bothered Zuko when she lifted her left hand to cover her mouth and choked back a laugh.
Despite that she found it quite enjoyable to get back at Zuko for all those clever remarks of his the night before, Katara certainly didn't want to annoy the FireLord to the point of wanting to assault her (as she had him). With a mental sigh of regret, Katara forced herself to be realistic, pointing out to herself that she didn't want to anger Zuko, most especially since she didn't have her waterskin with her this time.
Once again, she tried, much to his amazement, to make small talk with him.
"I couldn't help but notice... that you felt like you had a fever. That's normal for firebenders, right?"
Eyeing her quite suspiciously, Zuko nodded once.
"Your uncle felt cool when I was healing him."
"... When we are ill, our bodies automatically conserve heat energy."
"I see. Hmm... I know firebenders can raise their body temperatures at will. I am curious if you can also consciously lower your temperature below normal."
"... I never saw the need to lower my body temperature, but it should be doable."
Healer's curiosity piqued, Katara asked him if he could demonstrate. Zuko turned nonplussed when she took his hand in hers in order to feel when he had lowered his temperature. Genuine wonder flooded her expression when she felt his hand turn cool, and Zuko couldn't help but feel like a guinea pig when she enthusiastically asked him to raise his temperature and then lower it again.
"This is amazing," she said, her voice hushed. She was about to ask Zuko to raise his temperature again when the FireLord, feeling quite irked, asked her that waterbenders couldn't control their body temperatures?
Katara, intent in documenting how firebenders could raise and lower their temperatures at will, answered his question impatiently, "Zuko, of course, we can't control our body temperatures the way firebenders can. If we could, we wouldn't have to wear bulky clothing at the poles. Increase your temperature again, will you?"
Looking very irritated, Zuko continued doing Katara's bidding until the healer's curiosity was satisfied.
---
"This must really come in handy. Is this why you were able to survive at the North Pole wearing skimpy clothing?"
At this, Zuko only nodded once and a little wary. He wasn't about to inform her about his 'Breath of Fire'. Something told Zuko that the healer in Katara would have him demonstrate it to her extensively as well.
Then, much to his surprise, Katara, while standing less than an arm's length away from him and still holding his hand against her neck in order to better feel his temperature changes, suddenly giggled and with a very impish smile told him that-
"Firebenders would be perfect for cuddling with during long winter nights."
---
Katara wrenched her mouth free from Zuko's and while gasping for breath, somehow managed to get away from him. Breathing as hard as she, Zuko gazed at her with an absolutely dumbfounded expression on his scarred face.
"Has anyone ever told you just what a tease you are, Katara?" he said pointedly after recovering his breath.
After several seconds of stumped silence, Katara declared, "I am not."
"... Oh really... then I shall have to confer with my uncle, Jee and the others. Uncle, what would you say about a woman who tells you - firebenders would be perfect for cuddling with during long winter nights - and then rebuffs your advances?"
Her face turning as red as a tomato, Katara mumbled, "... I was just... making a funny observation."
"Ah... trying to keep up an interesting conversation, you mean?"
"... Yes."
"Very well. Let's continue then, shall we? Yes, Katara, I agree with you completely. Firebenders are perfect for cuddling with during long winter nights, and may I point out not only during cold nights but also during hot summer nights, rainy spring nights and even breezy autumn nights. Our fiery nature guarantees heat and passion during any and all-" Zuko broke off, almost breaking out into laughter when Katara suddenly squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears, refusing to listen to him or even to look at him.
---
---
---
Now on friendly but not too friendly terms with Zuko, Katara was more herself during the successive days. Ironically, it was Aang who was now the one reluctant to leave the bedroom.
"Aang, will you tell me just what's the matter?" she asked, annoyed by his need to keep whatever it was he did for Bumi during the last three evenings a secret.
He sighed, "You'll find out soon enough, Katara."
"... I hate it when you say that."
After breakfast on the seventh and last day of the festivities, guides led all the guests to the arena located midway between the palace and the front gates. Much to Katara's irritation, Aang abandoned her and the twins just as soon as he had escorted them to their seats. Bothered, she questioned Sokka and Suki as to what Aang was up to, but they knew as much as she did, which of course was nothing. Fortunately, her mood lightened upon the discovery that Zuko, Jun, Iroh, Jee and Bei had been assigned seats near them.
"Katara," Zuko greeted her with a smile before addressing her children, who chorused respectful greetings to him. Much to Katara's great relief, they actually didn't consider the FireLord any differently as before despite that they probably thought he was one of their mother's lovers. Katara really didn't look forward to having to inform Aang of what had almost happened between her and Zuko; however, her conscious was clear, and that was what was important to her. In addition, she had a ready excuse if Aang wasn't happy that Zuko had almost seduced her. After all, Aang had left her alone that night to do whatever it was he had to do for Bumi.
The stadium soon brimmed with spectators, who roared approval and clapped raucously when King Bumi appeared, smiling broadly and waving at his subjects. As soon as the audience settled down, Bumi, his voice echoing clearly through out the cleverly-designed-to-enhance-sound amphitheater, thanked them for celebrating his birthday with him.
"It's good to see you all here, and we have something very special in store for your entertainment this fine day." As though his words were a signal, from four tunnels rounding the interior of the stadium emerged running men and women who took positions on the sandy surface of the arena's floor.
They were all dressed in green Omashu wear, the men wearing only loose breeches while the women wore additional halter tops. Some, Katara noticed, were also carrying drums strung around their waists.
Bumi began to explain that an ancient Omashu traditional dance called "The Kata" was about to be performed, but his more detailed history of the dance was drowned out by another delighted cheer from the audience when it was discovered that the Avatar was one of the dance participants.
Bumi laughed, "Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention. My dear friend, the Avatar, insisted on joining- (on the sands below, Aang's jaw dropped with outrage at Bumi's lie) -when he found out only three days ago. Please do cheer him on; he practiced so hard." Another roar of approval, and Bumi sat down on his throne, looking very pleased with himself.
---
Katara was unable to take her eyes off Aang, as in unison with the other performers, he performed "The Kata". Though Aang had long since mastered earthbending and could accomplish practically any bending art with barely having to think about doing it, his face was contorted with concentration as he performed simple and intricate earthbending maneuvers in time to the hypnotic beats of the drums. Katara, a master herself, knew what Aang and the other dancers were doing was extremely difficult despite that they made it seem all so effortless.
Ground stomps to raise mounds of earth, forming patterns on the sand, followed by a quick succession of maneuvers that disintegrated them back into the ground. In a line the dancers ran round on the stadium wall, ending with hard kicks which propelled them back to the sand in tumbling landings. In teams of three, they execute high jumps simultaneously before diving, rolling and twisting in mid-air to land safe on earthbend-softened sand. The culmination of the dance was when the dancers as one earthbended out of the stadium ground a monolith so tall that it cast a shadow large enough to cover a third of the stadium.
When the dance ended, Katara, her face flushed with excitement, stood up as did the majority of the spectators to give the earthbenders a resounding applause for their outstanding performance.
---
"Avatar Aang, that was great!" Lan said happily, his sister Tui eagerly nodding in agreement. Both twins jumped up from their seats, rushing to greet Aang even before he could make it up the aisle to where they were all seated.
"Hey, not bad, Aang," said Sokka with a grin. Besides him, Suki just smiled though there was an appreciative glint in her green eyes, which luckily Katara's brother didn't see. Iroh and Lee also praised Aang with friendly smiles while Ambassador Bei was more formal in making his congratulations to the Avatar. Jun, like Suki, gave Aang an appreciative look and also remained quiet while Zuko simply didn't look at all impressed by what the Avatar had just accomplished.
"You were wonderful, Aang," Katara told him softly as he took his seat. His gray eyes lit up with pleasure at her words, and Katara laughed when he asked her if she forgave him for leaving her alone for the past three evenings.
"Of course I do, you idiot," she replied to him in a mocking tone. At this, Aang grinned mischievously and Katara had little warning when he suddenly leaned towards her for a kiss.
---
Jun breathed out with relief when she finally located Zuko; he had ensconced himself in one of the palace chambers with a high view overlooking the city of Omashu and the rock oil fields beyond.
"You really should stop going off on your own," she told him in a slightly reprimanding tone.
His shoulders moved back in a shrug, and Zuko turned to face her. "I can take care of myself, Jun."
"Of course you can, and it's not as if I wish you couldn't; however, Iroh will have my head if anything happens to his dear nephew. Not to mention, I wouldn't want to be held responsible should anything terrible befall the lord of the Fire Nation while I'm Commander of the Royal Family's Imperial Guard."
Much to her bother, Zuko simply smiled wryly at her complaint before moving across the room towards her. Pulling her into his arms, Zuko was about to kiss her when Jun prevented the action by performing a graceful twisting maneuver, which effectively freed her from his embrace.
Zuko kept his smile. "You too, Jun?"
She smiled back at him, still slightly. "You do know that I consider you more than an excellent lover, Zuko, and you also know full well that I dislike being used to satiate lust caused by another. You have been different since you came back from Kyoshi with Iroh."
"Oh, really? Different in what way?"
"You remind me of my shirshu during the mating season," she told him frankly, causing Zuko to have to choke back laughter at such a comparison.
---
Bumi didn't bother to hide his delighted amusement at the sight of his dear friend Aang sharing a dining couch with Katara. He was reclining full-length across the couch while she was sitting up properly and a little stiffly in front of him with his arm wound somewhat possessively about her waist. On the other dining couch was Sokka and Suki, also similarly positioned however it was Sokka who looked uncomfortable while Suki was as relaxed as Aang.
As Aang reached for a vegetable quiche, Bumi cleared his throat and then caused the Avatar to choke on his food by saying, "I expect to host the wedding, by the way."
"Bumi!" complained Aang, coughing and smiling with gratitude at a slightly flustered Katara, who gently massaged his back to help clear his airway.
"What?" said Bumi innocently, "I'm just offering my services. I am very good at hosting weddings."
"I'm sure you are, Bumi," said Sokka absent-minded, interested in the food, not in the conversation. Protective as he was of his sister, he had no worries at all with the idea of Katara marrying Aang. Now, if it had been another man he didn't know or didn't approve of, that was another matter entirely.
He also choked (on a chicken leg) when Bumi suggested, "We could make into a double wedding."
Their meal was interrupted when one of Bumi's personal guards appeared. His expression urgent, the earthbender quickly whispered into Bumi's ear.
"What?" said Bumi, a deep frown beginning to form on his face. "Well, show them in. Show them in." He stood up as the guard left. Concerned, the four of them also stood up; Aang asking Bumi what was wrong.
"I'm not sure yet, Aang," replied the monarch. Moments later, Bumi's squadron of personal guards appeared escorting Iroh and Lee accompanied by seven cloaked and hooded firebender soldiers.
Aang moved towards them, about to ask what was wrong when Iroh, appearing very agitated, told them that Zuko and Jun were missing.
---
Katara had rarely seen Aang so upset. She watched with the others as Aang tried to get Jun's shirshu to cooperate and help them locate the Fire Lord and its master. It seemed they had disappeared from the palace and and the city barely an hour ago.
She had also just recently witnessed a very uncommon sight of Iroh's temper breaking when Bumi suggested to him that perhaps the FireLord just wanted some private time alone with the lady.
My nephew and Jun wouldn't have just disappeared on their own without informing me or Jee; they know it is dangerous to be out of contact with the rest of the group while anywhere in the Earth Kingdom.
Bumi had still been unconvinced and also showed signs of impatience when Iroh, still upset, informed them that there would be repercussions if anything happened to his nephew and the commander.
What exactly do you mean by repercussions? Bumi's demeanor had suddenly turned very cold, and Aang had looked completely helpless as his friend faced off with the hated Dragon of the West, infamous for setting siege to the city of Bai Seng Sei for six hundred days.
Everyone, please calm down, Aang had appealed to them, but it seemed as though his words had just fallen on deaf ears as Bumi's guards began to surround the firebenders going into combat stances.
It had only been Jeong Jeong who had prevented disaster in Bumi's private chambers. Suddenly, he had stepped defensively in front of Iroh and pulled back his hood to reveal his identity to Bumi and his earthbenders.
What Iroh says is true. FireLord Zuko and Commander Jun are missing, the firebending master had told Bumi. Jeong Jeong was practically the only firebender granted a honored status in the Earth Kingdom for he had fought on their side against his former master FireLord Ozai during the Hundred Years' War. Only because of Jeong Jeong did Bumi believed the firebenders and ordered his earthbenders to begin searching for the missing Fire Lord and his companion.
Katara would never forget the anguish in Aang's face when Jeong Jeong had told him that such was the Avatar's burden - to be fair to all and risk being hated by all.
"It's no use. He won't obey me," said Aang finally, tormented by his failure to tame Jun's shirshu and for the fact that Zuko had been abducted while under his guardianship. Katara quickly tried to ease his pain by moving to his side, touching his arm reassuringly.
"It will be all right, Aang." But her words sounded false even to Katara's own ears.
---
Katara felt as though she was in a strange dream as she walked through the palace busy with guests pleased and satisfied with their week's stay in Omashu. There was no alarm raised for both Bumi and Iroh had agreed that it was best to keep quiet the matter of the FireLord's disappearance. However, there were still signs of unrest as Bumi's men, though ordered to keep mum on the details, still had to go through out Omashu and even to the villages nearby in order to conduct conspicuous searches of homes and businesses.
Suddenly feeling the need to reassure herself that her children were safe and sound, Katara had decided to temporarily leave the war room where Aang, Bumi, Sokka, Suki were discussing means and ways with Iroh, Lee and Jeong Jeong as to how to locate Zuko and Jun.
Relief flooded through Katara when she saw the twins playing with Haru and Shori's children. She had to damp down on a desire to go and embrace them; she knew Tui and Lan would think something was wrong if she had just hugged them without warning and she simply didn't want them to worry. They had nothing to do with the raging crisis currently going on behind the curtains of Omashu.
Still, Katara, watching Lan and his friends playing with the toy train set Zuko had gifted to him, felt guilty as though she was partly responsible for his and Jun's disappearance. Discomforted, Katara tried not to dwell upon it; she couldn't have possibly been involved.
By the sand garden's perimeter, she then watched quietly as her daughter don the armguard the FireLord had given to her. After which Tui looked up towards the opening of the atrium and brought her fingers to her mouth in order to produce a high-pitched whistle.
---
"Just follow the hawks, Avatar," Iroh urgently told Aang as he leaped unto Appa's skull and grabbed the reins. The white bison was hovering just outside the largest window of Bumi's private chambers; Momo already in the litter and alone. Aang wouldn't let any of the others accompany him, saying that Appa could fly faster with a lighter load.
Iroh commanded Chiko and her son, Toto, to find Zuko before releasing them into the air; Appa soaring after them. They all watched, craning their necks upwards as the hawks flew high above Omashu to circle several times before heading north.
---
Jun watched in anger and horror as the bandits took turns inflicting punishing blows on Zuko, tied to a stake with what she knew to be Sintering Bracers on both his wrists and even a second pair on his ankles. She didn't know where they were exactly only that they were somewhere out in the desert.
"Stop it! Leave him alone," she shouted herself hoarse at them. The masked bandits just ignored her furious pleas with cruel taunts, telling her not to worry, that she would be having their full attention as soon as they were through with the captive FireLord.
Zuko again coughed out blood, the sand before him already splattered with dark red streaks and droplets. Jun could barely bear the sight of him suffering so, especially since it had been directly her fault that Zuko had been captured in the first place.
Idiot. You shouldn't have tried to help me. Bitter regret clogged her throat with near tears as she remembered how the bandit leader had managed to capture her from behind while she had been busy defending against half a dozen of his minions. Seeing she was in trouble, Zuko had hesitated in his defense, allowing their attackers that one small opening they needed to bring down the FireLord and shackle those bracers on him.
As Zuko against received a blow in the gut, Jun pulled so hard at the chain holding her to a second stake that she ended up falling backwards painfully on her hands restrained behind her.
"I'm surprised at you," said someone. Jun quickly rolled to her knees and pushed herself up to stand; the bandit leader was looking at her, his eyes appearing narrowed through the slits of his mask.
"You're not a firebender. You're of the Earth Kingdom, one of us." She ignored his criticism and demanded that his men stop torturing Zuko. A chill went through her when he unsheathed a dagger and fingered its sharp point almost lovingly.
"If I were you, I wouldn't worry about your beloved FireLord. He won't be suffering for much too long now."
Jun took in a halting breath and in a whisper asked him what they were going to do to him.
Though she couldn't see it, she knew that there was a cruel smile behind the mask as he asked her back, "What do you think we're going to do to him?"
Then, unexpectedly, there came a most familiar and welcome sound to Jun's ears - the shrieking call of a Fire Nation messenger hawk. She turned her face towards the sky, the bandit leader doing the same. Against the clear blue desert sky, Jun could see two hawks flying towards them and just behind them the white shape of the Avatar's animal guide.
Jun almost cried out in joy and relief; the bandits, on the other hand, panicking at the sight of the Avatar's beast heading straight at them. Their leader quickly called for calm and order, but all his attempts to control his men's fears where for naught when three bolts of lightning consecutively struck in three separate points just outside and around their camp's perimeter.
"Jet, we have to get out of here!" yelled one of the bandits, hardly cowed when Jet furiously reprimanded him for saying his name out loud. In a disorganized mass, the bandits ran for their mounts and had to struggle with the beasts already wild with fear because of the thunderbolts.
Cursing the Avatar, Jet strode over to the unconscious FireLord, and Jun was distracted from watching the Avatar coming to their rescue when she heard a distressed noise from Zuko. She turned and screamed with anguished fury when she saw that Jet had driven the dagger to the hilt into Zuko's stomach. He took only a second to consider his handiwork before yanking out the blade and heading purposely towards Jun.
---
Absolute horror ran through every fiber of Katara's being when Aang brought Zuko to her for healing.
"You have to save him, Katara. I can't. I don't know how. I never learned how to use waterbending for healing."
Forcing a cry back at the sight of Zuko's mangled body, Katara immediately went to work. It didn't take her long to realize that the worst wound was the cauterized deep cut in his midsection.
Iroh, horrified then infuriated that his nephew had to endure such torment, demanded to Bumi to have his men go after the ones responsible and have them handed over to the Fire Nation for punishment. This time, Bumi didn't disagree. With a fury to match that of Iroh, he roared orders at his earthbenders to go out into the desert to hunt for the renegades.
Jun, still shaky, told them that the leader of the bandits who had abducted them was called Jet.
A stunned silence suddenly befell Bumi's private chamber to be broken first by Sokka, who grimly stated that he wasn't surprised that Jet would do such a horrible deed.
Iroh was quick to demand for this Jet to be handed over to them, but Bumi, suddenly reluctant, surprised everyone when he asked Jun if she could identify the bandit leader if she saw him.
"... No, he- all of them were wearing masks," said Jun slowly; she was seated on one of the dining couches, covered in a blanket with a warm cup of tea in her hands.
Bumi looked thoughtful before turning to Aang and asking him if it was indeed Jet. The Avatar, still agitated from just barely rescuing Zuko and Jun from certain death, uncharacteristically snapped at his old friend saying, "No, Bumi. I didn't check if it was really Jet. I was too busy trying to keep Zuko from bleeding out into the sand. And why are you questioning what she said? I don't think she would have made it up. If she says it was Jet, it must be Jet who did this to Zuko."
The very old earthbending master sighed, "Aang, it's not that simple. First, we don't know if it's Jet, hero of people, who was responsible. It may be another Jet. Second, we just can't go around accusing anyone without proof."
Suddenly furious, Aang pointed to Katara struggling to heal Zuko. "That's proof, Bumi!"
Another weary sigh. "No, Aang. That's only proof that someone tried to do away with the FireLord in a very unpleasant manner; it's not proof that Jet did it. Besides…, there are many who would consider news of Zuko's death cause for celebration."
Finally, Aang understood what Bumi was trying to say to him, but further discussion was interrupted by a sob from Katara, who was holding out her blood-stained hands over Zuko's wound.
"I can't- it's too deep," she whispered. Aang's heart sank, and he and Iroh quickly joined her and Jee by Zuko's side.
"Katara, you can do this. Please don't give up."
"I can't do this alone, Aang. You have to help me."
"... How?"
"Here. Just-" Zuko's eyes suddenly snapped opened just as Katara guided Aang's hands over the wound. His eyes, a pale sickly yellow, widened at the sight of the Avatar near him and he began struggling to get up, screaming at Aang to keep away from him.
"Zuko, no! Don't move!" Katara cried, despair coursing through her as more blood gushed out anew from his wound. Iroh and Jee struggled to keep the FireLord still by holding him down while Aang, with a expression of deep regret and sadness, moved away, remembering that he had caused Zuko to bear excruciating pain while burning the wound to stop the bleeding.
Suddenly, Katara surprised everyone when she turned to Sokka and Suki and asked them to quickly bring her son to her.
As they left the chambers, Iroh, still holding on to his nephew, now unconscious, asked Katara in a trembling voice if her son was skilled enough to help heal such a serious wound.
"He's a healing prodigy," she whispered to him as she again focused and guided healing water into the wound. Wounds such as this were a great deal more difficult to heal than even Iroh's old heart ailment. With the latter, all Katara had to do was locate the obstruction, if any, and clear it away then use healing water to rejuvenate diseased muscles. However, deep cut wounds required that she close and heal each and every layer of flesh which had been injured, all needed to be done before the patient lost too much blood or suffered further internal injuries from damaged organs.
Katara simply couldn't do it alone.
Lan looked surprised and alarmed as he was led into the chamber by his uncle with Suki and Tui following right behind them. Katara quickly went to her son and knelt in front of him.
"Lan, remember the time when you helped heal me your friend, Yuki? Her wounds were so terrible and I was just about to give up when you helped me heal her. Do you remember?"
Staring at the tear-stained face of his mother, Lan slowly nodded at her, and Katara was barely able to hold back another sob.
"I need you to do the same here. We have to heal Lord Zuko together, okay?"
Again, another nod, and Katara stood up and quickly led him with her to Zuko's side.
---
The next morning, during the farewell feast, Jet carefully watched out for clues on whether or not the FireLord had survived. Angry with himself for not having the FireLord and the traitor killed more expediently, Jet again wished he had just ordered his men to slice open their throats as soon as they had them out in the desert. Unfortunately, the desire to see the hated leader of the Fire Nation suffer out his last moments of life in agony had proved too tempting. And when the Avatar suddenly found them out so quickly, they couldn't even kill him outright, for the Avatar would have had gone after them rather then hurry back to Omashu to bring the injured FireLord to his lover, the famed healer of Kyoshi.
Other than their failure to do away with the FireLord, Jet's other regret was failing to kill the traitor, who had heard his name. Even restrained, she had proved herself skilled enough to avoid his attacks and even inflict damage upon him, wasting enough of Jet's time that he had to give up and run after his fleeing companions just as the Avatar was overhead.
Jet tried to console himself by reminding himself that he and his men had been fortunate that the Avatar hadn't thought to bring along more help with him. Inwardly, he smirked and thought no doubt the Avatar had either thought he could handle everything on his own or hadn't wanted his friends hurt.
Compassionate imbecile.
He wasn't even worried about the traitor trying to identify him. True, it was an inconvenience that she knew his name; however, he would be able to bring any accusation around to his favor should the firebenders be foolish enough to actually try to make claim that he had been the mastermind behind their precious FireLord's abduction and near-death or death. Jet was still placing his money on the latter outcome. As skilled as Katara was rumored to be, he strongly doubted she had the experience to deal with such a mortal wound. The war had been over for years, and he knew that the healer was more famed for healing skin blemishes, of all things, rather than serious physical injuries.
In the meantime, he could confidently look forward to increasingly unfriendly relations between Omashu and the Fire Nation, little doubt to the point of war.
However, much to Jet's shock, the hundred-strong Fire Nation delegation entered the Great Hall, at the front of which was the FireLord, unshrouded and though having a paler complexion, seemed none the worse for wear. Accompanying him was the King of Omashu and the Avatar; they actually seemed to be sharing an amusing conversation with the FireLord, for they were chuckling at his expense with the FireLord looking vaguely bothered.
Realizing that the Avatar and his lackeys intended to make it appear as though nothing had happened - that all was well and dandy between the Fire Nation and Omashu and to effect, the rest of the Earth Kingdom caused Jet to almost completely lost his temper with angered frustration that all his and his men's work to sabotage diplomatic relations between the two nations were for naught. Finishing off his cup of wine, Jet, barely containing his fury, stood up and strode towards the main doors. However, along the way, he was accosted by a pretty brown-haired lady, who twisted his arm behind his back and forced him without anyone noticing into one of the anterooms wherein Sokka was waiting with a gag and rope for him.
---
Bumi, who had a small crazy-looking smile on his very craggy face, told the gagged and tied up Jet, "Please don't come to my birthday party next year or the next or the next and forevermore, and don't bother visiting Omashu ever either."
Jet looked as though he wanted to spit at them, but of course he couldn't.
"Mhmm... you know, Aang, we really can't keep him like this forever. His men might -miss- him. 'Fraid he's too clever for us."
"I know, Bumi. We've no proof he had anything to do with it. Plus, we agreed with Zuko and the others that it never happened. Still..."
Shock widened Jet's eyes when the Avatar all of the sudden seemed the FireLord Ozai incarnated. His eyes were aglow with a reddish hue and flames began to flicker about his entire form. Jet struggled to free himself as Bumi, Sokka and Suki moved back a few careful steps away from the angry Avatar.
Bumi remarked, "Ah, Aang, don't go burning down my palace or anything, okay?"
Aang just smiled at Bumi before giving Jet back his full fiery attention.
"Jet, do remember that as the Avatar, I am also a firebender and that the Fire Nation and its people and its FireLord are also under my protection. I will defend all nations against those who desire war and strife between them. Do you understand me?"
After several long tensed moments, Jet nodded once, and Bumi breathed out a big sigh of relief when his old friend finally turned off his firebender state. Sokka and Suki moved to untie Jet, who without a single word, ran for the door and struggled to get through the guards stationed just outside. They let him pass only when Bumi signaled to them to let him go. After the four of them exchanged somewhat grim but satisfied smiles with each other, Sokka and Suki left, leaving Aang and Bumi alone in the small chamber.
Bumi glanced at his old friend, who was suddenly looking a little morose.
"Sorry, Aang, but I'm afraid you'll always have trouble with people like him."
Aang sighed, "Yes, Bumi. I know."
The monarch, not liking it at all when his friend was all depressed and gloomy, quickly said cheerfully, "Ah, but look on the bright side, Aang. You've got -me- on your corner. Whatever your decisions as Avatar, no matter how crazy your ideas are, King Bumi and Omashu will back you up and stay with you til the bittersweet end."
Slowly, Aang smiled. "Thanks, Bumi."
"Mhmmm. Oh, and by the way. Remember to fulfill your end of our little agreement."
Aang blinked. "... Bumi, I already did everything," he complained.
"No, you didn't."
"Huh?"
"Godchildren, Aang. Remember, you promised me you'd settle down, marry and have lots of children if I helped you with the Fire Nation. And I mean -lots- of children. I highly recommend keeping the lovely Lady Katara barefoot and pregnant. It's about time the population of Air Nomads increases from the size of just one.
"... Hey Aang, where are you going off to? Don't you welsh on our agreement now, you hear?"
Finally, Aang laughed out loud and whilst shaking his head with fond amusement, turned back and told his dear old friend Bumi that he was crazy.
---
To be concluded.
---
I'm sorry, everyone. No trying to be funny author's note available. I'm too worried about Bumi. I really -really- hope he will be okay in season 2. Once again, feedback is always very welcomed, and I hope you all look forward to the final chapter.